Florida City Council: Mexican Flag OK, Gadsden Flag Must Go

The city of Ocala, Florida, is going after a local small-business man, threatening to fine him $250 to $500 per day if he doesn’t remove a Gadsden flag from the front of his knife business.

Gear Barrel owner Keith Greenberg told The Blaze, “This is a shock. Honestly, I feel like this is Russia. I’ve been around the world … this is what you expect in really closed countries where there is no freedom of expression. Not here — so it’s shocking.”

Greenberg said he was told by city officials that he could fly an American flag in front of his business, but nothing else.

“We find ourselves in a sad place where local municipalities are stepping all over people’s freedom with the signing of a pen,” he said.

Wonder who they could have learned that from?

Anyway, the city’s rule is a bit confusing, Greenberg feels, because he sees other businesses flying flags other than the American flag, including a pub that flies the Irish flag and a car dealership flying the Mexican flag.

In fairness, it’s unknown if those businesses have received similar notices to Greenberg’s.

Probably not, though. Remember, in these days of unbiased media coverage and fair government, a Gadsden flag is deemed racist because it links you to the Tea Party, which opposes the man in the Oval Office, who is black (his white half having been rejected and arrested), which means any criticism of his politics must be racially motivated.

Greenberg said if he is fined under the city’s statutes, it could destroy his business, which opened earlier this year.

He said that he plans to talk to the city council about this situation. If you would like to help, this link will take you to the city’s council page, which has email links for every member of the city council.

The Gadsden flag was America’s flag before there was an American flag. It’s slogan is “Don’t Tread on Me.” Why not help a fellow American preserve his rights, which those early American patriots fought to secure?